Fall Sports Preview: Boys and Girls Cross Country

Looking to the past to build the future.

When graduate Emma Unger overcame years of chronic pain to place ninth in the Division III state meet, coach Michael Schaefer is hoping the returnees of the Worthington Christian girls cross country team were paying attention.

Unger, who is currently running for Liberty University, had a tumor removed from her hip and then went on to set the school’s cross-country record (18 minutes, 32.8 seconds). She closed out her senior season by placing ninth in the Division III state meet in 18:48.7.

“I hope the returnees who ran with her learned that hard work and dedication pays off,” Schaefer said.

Unger broke the 31-year-old record of 19:03 set by Michelle Burson (WC ’93) during her eighth-place finish at the Division III state championship. Unger was also the runner-up at the Central Buckeye League meet (19:27.8), the district meet (18:59.59), and the regional championship (18:45.13).

Although Unger and Annie White graduated last year and the Warriors lost senior Natalie Ryan to a preseason injury, the Warriors return senior Kenzie Krapenc, juniors Elise Meyer and Bekah Webster, and sophomores Olive Edgel and Zoe Ryan to the varsity.

Additionally, senior Anjali Paul is returning for her fourth season, and freshman Emily Hixon has joined the team.

Worthington Christian is looking to build on what it accomplished last season. The Warriors finished fourth out of 10 teams with 124 points at the district meet to advance as a team to the regional championship for the first time since 1997. At the district meet, Edgel placed 16^th (20:52.59) and was followed by Meyer (29^th, 21:56.1), Webster (46^th, 23:06.08), Krapenc (49^th, 23:10.58), Zoe Ryan (56^th, 23:46.83) and White (67^th, 24:50.84).

Worthington Christian took ninth out of 19 teams with 212 points at the regional meet. Edgel was the only other runner for the Warriors to crack the top 40 at the regional meet, placing 37^th in 21:05.94. Meyer (75^th, 22:13.28), Webster (103^rd, 23:24.14), Zoe Ryan (104^th, 23:25.02), Krapenc (114^th, 23:54.62) and White (135^th, 25:59.8).

“Last year was a huge confidence booster,” Schaefer said. “The girls realized their depth as a team and could truly race people- not just get out there and run for a time. They saw firsthand just how important it is to fight for each position at the district level to earn their regional team qualification.”

Competing in the inaugural season in the CBL was an eye-opener for the Warriors. Rival Grandview won both the district and regional titles and placed ninth at the state meet with 300 points. Columbus School for Girls was second at the district, third at the regional meet, and 15^th at the state meet (327).

Edgel was the second finisher for the Warriors at the CBL meet, placing 12^th (21:48.8) as Worthington Christian took third with 100 points behind Grandview (33) and CSG (71). Meyer (25^th, 23:04.1), and Webster (29^th, 23:44.8) were the team’s top four finishers while Krapenc (32^nd, 24:08.4) and Zoe Ryan (37^th, 25:01.7) cracked the league’s top 40.

“(The CBL) is strong, but we know the best way to get faster is to race fast people,” Schaefer said. “We welcome the competitive conference teams because it prepares us for big races.”

Schaefer hopes the Warriors won’t have to wait another 26 years to make it out of the district meet.

“A team regional qualification is always a goal,” he said. “I don’t want them to think it was a fluke last season, but rather a standard. As long as they stay focused and continue to work together as a team, they can make a strong presence in the postseason.”

Boys Cross Country

For the boys’ cross country team, finishing 44th in the Division III regional meet in 17:28.32 has whetted the appetite for Dylan Wooten.

“Dylan is onboard 110 percent. He is motivated and put in a lot of quality work this summer,” Schaefer said. “He got a taste of the post-season last year by qualifying for the regional meet and is hungry for states now. He was hopeful last season, but that hopefulness has evolved into confidence.”

The Warriors placed eighth out of 13 teams at the district meet with 213 points, finishing behind champion Fredericktown (75) and Fisher Catholic (80). The team hopes Wooten won’t be there alone at the next regional championships.

Joe Spires, who placed 25^th at the Central District meet last year in 18:06.07), and Matt Koran graduated last year. However, the Warriors return five out of last season’s top six runners. Joining Wooten are seniors Cole Kaiser, Brice Norvell, Aaron Van Dop, and junior Joel Bauman.

“Both Spires and Koran’s leadership will be missed,” Schaefer said. “We are returning a tight-knit group of boys, which is great. “Teammates are often the best motivators, and this group pushes each other well. That camaraderie sets the foundation for a strong team culture for future seasons.”

Wooten qualified for the regionals by placing 16^th at the district meet in 17:18.57. Bauman (56^th, 19:33.07), Norvell (62nd, 19:46.57), Van Dop (72^nd, 20:22.07), and Kaiser (84^th, 21:58.81) also gained valuable experience at the district level. Senior Hayden Huffer will serve as the team manager this season.

At the Central Buckeye League meet, the Warriors finished fifth out of seven teams with 114 points, finishing behind champion Bexley (38) and runner-up Grandview (55). Wooten placed 11^th in 18:03.1 and was followed by Spires (15^th, 18:20.2), Bauman (23^rd, 19:47.40) and Norvell (32^nd, 20:17.50). Van Dop, (33^rd, 20:33.9), and Kaiser (38^th, 21:26.8) also cracked the top 40.

The boys will be helped by the addition of senior Will Vargas, who previously was on the boys’ golf team, and sophomore Samuel Zhu, a former middle school runner. Schaefer expects big things from incoming freshmen Liam Dennis, Caden Korodi, Zachary Stull, and Evan West.

“We have a tight-knit group of seniors who foster a great atmosphere for the younger athletes,” Schaefer said. “They set the bar high and lead in a way that motivates others to aim high.”

Schaefer is also setting high goals for this season.

“I always want to improve upon the previous season,” Schaefer said. “I’d like to see a stronger team finish at the district meet and for Dylan to turn last year’s regional qualification into a state qualification. I also want the rest of the seniors to hit the time goals they set for themselves.”